Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-04-21
BETTER CULTIVATION.
Iho 0nly Saro Way q xneroaslDg ~
YlelA e western Fafua

BETTER CULTIVATION.
TAs 0.ly s.rs Way q I.essasasg -
TlelA e Western FaraA
There are three essentials necessary
to secure . good crop Good coil thor
oughly prepared; good seed carefully
planted and thorough cultivation given
at the right time and in the right man
Fer. Each is dependent upon the other.
and while either viii aid to increase
the yield to some extent the very best
results are secured by giving all three.
We can make the soil rich By apply
ing fertilizers or manures. in default OF
3 full supply of these preparation
and cultivation can. to q considerable
extent. be made to take the place
1t is very rare that land is cultivated
until the plant food is entirely exhaust
ed. and thorough cultivation and prep
aration aids very materially in render
ing available plant food already in the
SOIL but as yet not soluble or in con-
dition to be taken up and used.
Thorough preparation of the soil be-
fore planting induces better. stronger
and quicker termination of the seed
and better start to grow. The cult
walton can be commenced earlier and
be more thorough with less labor
than if the soil is indiferently pre-
pared. This, of course secures q bet
ter growth. In this way tillage can be
made to some extent take the place Of
manure, not fully because this plan
takes still more plant food from the
soil, leaving it after the crop is taken
off somewhat purer and without ad-
ding anything to the supply. either for
the present or the future. Yet by Sc
curing larger crops larger supply Of
manure can be secured because the
increased yield secured enables US to
keep more stock. and if rightly
managed. the more stock the more
manure. and the more manure the
richer the soil. So that it becomes
from the start a very considerable
item to make all reasonable effort to
secure as large yield as possible. II
you have full supply of manure apply
as evenly as possible and incorporate
thoroughly with the soil. If you have
not a sufficient quality of manure, take
particular pains to thoroughly prepare
the soil, use good seed. and then give
as thorough cultivation as possible.
Frequent stirring. keeping fine and
mellow. aid materially in rendering
plant food in the soil more available.
OF course We may be able to cultivate
too much, there is hardly any question
but that this can be done, but as vet
We fall considerably short in q great
majority Of cases of giving as much
cultivation as is really necessary in Or
der to secure the very best results.
And until this is done the most of Us
need have no fear on this account.
We must increase our yields if we would
increase our profits and build up the
fertility of the farm. The additional ex-
pense in giving more thorough york in
preparing the land and cultivating
the crops is only slight increase in
the cost which very small increase in
the yield will pay and still give US an
increased profit 1t is always an item
that must be considered that it is nee
essary to build up the fertility Of the
soil Of the farm. The surest way of
doing this is to take all the pains pos
sible, to secure as large a yield As pos
sible, and then feed out to stock on the
farm SO rs to secure the largest profit,
taking proper precautions to make and
save all the manure possible. ! know
Of no better way. and l know Of no
better plan than to have the soil thor
oughly prepared. carefully planted and
given the most thorough cultivation.
Even If You have manure or fertilizer,
give the preparation and cultivation
there is hardly any risk of you securing
too large crop. Better and more
profitable to cultivate ten acres thor
oughly than twenty partially.-N. j.
Shepherd. in Des lNoines (Ia.) Leader.